Madam Deputy Speaker, the history and record of the indentured labourers of Indian origin in South Africa are a classic example of how people can defy the odds and rise above their circumstances. Their story can only be compared to that of the Africans who were captured and transported across the Atlantic, and sold as slaves in the Americas.
The comparison is relevant because in our view the difference between indentured labour and slavery is insignificant. Of course, as we tell this story, we are saying very little about those who could have perished on the way, and we think there were many. Those who brought them to South Africa had possibly hoped that they would forever be drawers of water and hewers of wood.
Azapo says they defied the odds, because they have become part and parcel of South Africa. Many of them identified themselves with the oppressed during the struggle for liberation. They rejected the pseudo freedom of the tricameral system, and fought for true and genuine freedom. We thank God that despite the intentions of those who transported them across the seas, we now have successful business people, lawyers, doctors, teachers, sports persons, and so on.
We are paying tribute to them for the role that they have played in bringing about democracy in South Africa. If we had the time and space, we would mention some of them by name. I am paying tribute to one of my political mentors, the late Cde Strini Moodley. We are looking forward to a day when we will refer to these patriots just as South Africans, without any reference to where they came from, just as we do not refer to others as South Africans of German, Dutch, English or Italian descent. Thank you. [Applause.]